Aventine Hill Travel - Home
Alex and Nico Gabbi
A Family Affair
Our Founding Story

Aventine Hill Travel was born out of a father and son’s mutual passion for sharing the country they love, Italy, with others. Alex, the father, grew up in Italy watching his own father give impromptu tours of the Venetian streets he was raised on to anyone interested, learning from a young age the importance of welcoming visitors to your home and showing them kindness and hospitality. These values were later instilled in his son, Nico, through yearly trips to Italy and other destinations worldwide. As he grew into an adult, Nico took the opportunity to immerse himself further in his father and grandfather's homeland, first living in Italy for a gap year before college, and then a semester abroad in Florence during which he traveled throughout. Altogether, both Alex and Nico have been to over 50 countries each across 5 continents, but none more than Italy.

Through these frequent trips, friends began to come to them for advice: “Where should I stay in Siena?”, “What is the restaurant in Rome that all the locals love?”, “What are some off-the-beaten-path destinations that I have to see during my trip to Sicily?”. Answering questions and giving advice eventually developed into providing some of their past itineraries, booking restaurant reservations, and more. Before long the duo were planning entire trips to Italy for family and friends free of charge; all out of a simple passion for showing off the country they love.

This is how the idea for Aventine Hill came about: an organic progression of friends helping friends. As time went on, and the number of referrals increased, creating a business around this passion became a necessity, and so Aventine Hill Travel was born. Alex and Nico set out to help people experience the true Italy with the hope that they would leave their trip loving the country and people as much as they did. The father and son still carefully craft every trip with the traveler in mind, just as they did when it was for a close friend or family member, taking time, attention, and their wealth of experience, knowledge, and connections to leave clients with memories and smiles that last a lifetime.

San Gimignano, Italy
Our Travel Philosophy
Fostering a Lasting Love for Italy

Our connection to Italy runs deep. We've lived there, formed lasting relationships with locals, and uncovered secrets that most tourists never experience. From the bustling streets of Rome to the serene countryside of Tuscany, we know Italy like only true insiders can.

At Aventine Hill Travel, we believe that travel should be more than just visiting popular attractions. It's about immersing yourself in the local culture, forming connections with people, and creating stories that you'll cherish for a lifetime. We meticulously craft each itinerary to balance iconic sights with off-the-beaten-path experiences, ensuring that every journey is authentic and unique.

Our commitment goes beyond just planning trips. We're dedicated to fostering a lasting love for Italy in everyone we work with. We're not just travel planners; we're memory makers, cultural bridges, and, we hope, lifelong friends to our clients. Join us on a journey through Italy and let us show you the magic that happens when insider knowledge meets passionate dedication.

Our Process & Pricing
Creating Lifetime Memories

In order to create travel experiences that perfectly match the dreams of our clients, we follow a simple process:


Step 1: Introductory Call & Travel Plan

We ask that as a first step all new clients set up an introductory call with us.  During this call, we will explore travel destinations, objectives, time frame, and travel style to ensure that we are a perfect fit for one another.  If we mutually agree, then our client will authorize us to complete an initial basic travel plan, which is an outline of travel dates along with main destinations.


Step 2: Travel Plan Review & Travel Itinerary

During this stage, our clients will review the trip outline proposed and select a planning package they would like to benefit from for their trip.  We will then complete a detailed itinerary based on the package selected.


Step 3: Itinerary Review, Feedback & Bookings

At this stage, we will work closely with our client to finalize their itinerary and, upon approval, complete all bookings related to the trip.


Our Pricing

Our pricing is based on a simple flat fee that is determined by the planning package selected and trip duration.  We do not mark up any activities, transportation, or lodging, ensuring that our pricing is fully transparent. This allows our clients to have full control over their travel budget as well as their itinerary.

Customer Testimonials

Here are just a few things that our clients have had to say about their experiences with Aventine Hill Travel.


"We've traveled with Aventine Hill Travel twice and have another multi-week trip planned with them for Northern Italy for the Spring 2025. They offer unparalleled insights into the key sites, restaurants and lodging. By working with AHT, we've learned private guides often are the way to go to get the most out our travel time and budget. The itinerary pacing works well for us, with an ideal mix of nature, historical, and leisure activities. I can't recommend these guys enough."


"Aventine Hill Travel has planned some of the most memorable international trips my family has taken. They strike the perfect balance of scheduled activities and relaxation. Accommodations are always first rate, as well as the transportation services and restaurant recommendations. Their passion for travel and Italy is contagious."


"Our trip covered Rome, the Amalfi Coast (including Capri), Sicily, and Puglia. With the exception of Rome, this was all new to our entire party and it remains one of our favorite trips. We were able to do things we would not even have considered without Alex's input and guidance. Highly recommended!"


"Aventine Hill Travel made our dream honeymoon come true! Their knowledge, guidance, advice and attention to detail are unmatched!"


"I can't thank Alex and Nico enough for the incredible assistance on several trips our family took to Italy. They were so attentive to our interests, from finding the perfect mix of local and cultural experiences to recommending hotels, restaurants and tours that were tailored to our needs. Their love, passion, and expertise in the region is second to none and helped enable everything ran smoothly made our vacation truly unforgettable. I would highly recommend Aventine Hill Travel to anyone looking for a seamless and personalized travel experience."


"This was our first time using a luxury travel expert service and it totally exceeded our expectations. So much so, we had to do it again and were provided with another totally indescribable luxury experience that has us wanting more!"


"Two of the most memorable trips in my life were a journey crafted by Aventine Hill Travel. Both to Italy, but different parts of the country which resulted in amazing adventures and top of the line accommodations. We were able to easily travel throughout the country because of the detail provided to making each stop seamless. We would definitely utilize travel services again."


"Such a well-planned, personal, curated trip. From arrival to departure, we were blown away!”


“Alex & Nico’s attention to detail and ability to understand our wishes & desires for our trip was spot on.”

Aventine Hill
The Story Behind our Brand


Aventine Hill was chosen for our name for two main reasons: 

1) it has a strong connection to Rome's origin story, Roman history and modern Rome; and 


2) it has a strong connection to Alex, as his high school is on Aventine Hill and he proposed to his wife at Giardino degli Aranci, a beautiful park on the hill with one of the best views of Rome.

Why the keyhole?
Through the keyhole of a door accessing the gardens of a property owned by the Knights of Malta on Aventine Hill, the cupola of St. Peter's is framed. For us this represents the fact that we give our clients a hidden, special view of Italy that is not normally available.

Why the key?
The stylized papal key has several meanings - it connects us to Rome while also symbolizing our mission to unlock both the important sites but also the hidden sites of Italy for our clients.